childish

childish — adjective

1. having the simple, innocent, or fresh qualities that are naturally associated wi

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having the simple, innocent, or fresh qualities that are naturally associated with a child — used about objects, actions, or feelings that belong to or suit childhood.

Example

The kindergarten teacher smiled at the childish drawings pinned to the wall.

attributive: childish drawings

Ravi still kept a childish habit of humming tunes while he drew with crayons.

collocation: childish habit

Common collocations
  • childish delight
  • childish excitement
  • childish laughter
  • childish drawing
  • childish innocence
Synonyms
  • childlike

    more consistently positive; used for appealing innocence or wonder

  • youthful

    broader — refers to any young age, not just childhood

  • innocent

    focuses on lack of guile rather than age-related qualities

Antonyms
  • adult

    describes something suitable for or typical of adults

  • mature

    describes developed, age-appropriate qualities

Grammar Patterns

a childish + noun

be/feel/seem + childish

Usage Note

This sense describes qualities or things characteristic of childhood in a neutral or mildly positive way. It differs from sense 2 (IMMATURE) in that it is NOT used to criticise adults — rather, it describes objects, memories, or behaviours that naturally belong to childhood.

Common Mistakes

His constant complaining during meetings was so childish.' (using sense 1 when criticising an adult).
His constant complaining during meetings was so childish.
This sentence is actually sense 2 (see IMMATURE sense). If praising a genuine childlike quality, say 'His childish excitement about the museum visit was endearing.'

2. behaving in a foolish, unreasonable, or self-centred way that is not appropriate

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

behaving in a foolish, unreasonable, or self-centred way that is not appropriate for an adult — for example, refusing to share, complaining loudly about small problems, or walking out of a room after a disagreement.

Example

Theo's boss told him to stop his childish behaviour during team meetings.

attributive: childish behaviour

Calling someone names over a small mistake is a childish way to react.

pattern: childish way to + infinitive

Common collocations
  • childish behaviour
  • childish argument
  • childish tantrum
  • childish remark
  • childish response
  • childish game
Synonyms
  • immature

    the closest synonym; slightly more formal and covers a wider age range

  • babyish

    more informal and stronger — suggests behaviour suitable for a baby, not a child

  • juvenile

    more formal; sometimes used in legal or technical contexts

  • silly

    broader — not limited to age-related criticism

Antonyms
  • mature

    describes adult, sensible, age-appropriate behaviour

  • grown-up

    informal synonym for mature

  • adult

    straightforward opposite in the context of behaviour

Grammar Patterns

a childish + noun

be/act/seem + childish

it is childish of + someone + to-infinitive

Usage Note

This is the dominant sense of childish and is used to criticise an adult's behaviour. Distinguish from childlike, which is always positive and describes appealing child qualities (innocence, curiosity, trust). Calling an adult's behaviour childish is an insult; calling their expression childlike is a compliment.

Common Mistakes

Her childlike temper tantrum embarrassed everyone.
Her childish temper tantrum embarrassed everyone.
childlike is a compliment and does not fit negative behaviour like temper tantrums.
I love your childish sense of wonder about the world.
I love your childlike sense of wonder about the world.
'childish' for adult qualities is insulting; use 'childlike' for positive traits.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

Childish is the strongest criticism of the five — it calls an adult's behaviour not just young but inappropriate and unreasonable. Childlike is the only positive term in the group; it refers to appealing child qualities such as innocence, curiosity, and trust. Immature is the safest neutral-to-negative option: it covers any shortfall in age-appropriate behaviour without the emotional sting of childish. Babyish is more informal and intensifies the criticism — it suggests the person is acting like a baby, not just a child. Juvenile is the most formal and can be technical (a juvenile offender) but in everyday use it carries a similar meaning to childish, though slightly milder. Example: 'His childish refusal to share the remote control was embarrassing' (strongest criticism). 'Her childlike wonder at the stars was lovely' (positive). 'The team's immature handling of the deadline caused delays' (neutral criticism). 'Stop being so babyish and eat your vegetables' (informal, scolding). 'That was a juvenile response to a serious question' (mildly critical, formal).

childish ↗childlike ↗immature ↗babyishjuvenile

Common collocations

Nouns

  • childish behaviour
  • childish attitude
  • childish response
  • childish excitement
  • childish delight

Adverbs

  • extremely childish
  • rather childish
  • a bit childish
  • so childish
  • surprisingly childish

Phrases

  • how childish!
  • that is so childish
  • a childish thing to do
  • too childish to take seriously

Prepositions

  • childish of + person (it is childish of him)
  • childish about + topic (childish about losing)
  • childish for + person (childish for an adult)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Childish comes from Old English cildisc, formed from cild ('child') plus the suffix -isc ('-ish', meaning 'having the qualities of'). It entered English before the 12th century and originally meant simply 'of or relating to a child', without negative judgement. The disapproving sense — describing an adult who behaves childishly — developed in Middle English around the 14th century and gradually became the dominant meaning in modern usage.